The Illustrated Guide to Chickens Book Review

Alphapet Walk In Chicken Run

The Alphapet walk in chicken runs come in a range of sizes that are ideally suited for a small to

Keeping Geese

Housing Geese

Providing you can give sufficient space, adequate ventilation and security from nighttime predators, a goose house need not be complicated. In this article, Mo provides the low-down on housing geese.

Chicken Breeds

Orpington Chickens

The Orpington fowl is more impressive in the flesh than in photographs that accompany the various books on pure breeds of poultry.

With its abundance of feathers, the large fowl Orpingtons fill their show pens and are a sight to behold. The bantams – a miniature version of this magnificent breed – are still relatively big birds and equally eye-catching and impressive.

Incubating, Hatching & Brooding Chicks

Hatchability of Chicken Eggs

The hatchability of chicken eggs is as essential for backyard chicken keepers as it is for commercial flocks, especially when you have a limited number of eggs from a rare breed or breed in numbers to produce a small number of birds for the show pen.

Keeping Geese

Creating an Orchard for Poultry

Traditionally, in Europe, people kept poultry in orchards. Chickens and waterfowl would eat insects and fallen fruit, and geese would keep the grass short. Droppings helped provide nutrients for the trees, and the trees provided shade, shelter and safety.

By: Tim Daniels
February 27, 2011
Updated: 10 years ago

How to choose them, How to keep them.

Author: Celia Lewis
Publisher: A & C Black Ltd.
Edition Published: 9th April 2010
Softback: 192 pages
ISBN-10: 1408122294
ISBN-13: 978-1408122297
Available from: Amazon

The Illustrated Guide To Chickens is a beautifully presented book that covers 100 of the most familiar breeds of chickens found across Europe and North America. Every breed has been painted by the author and artist Celia Lewis (who has co-written two other books on hen care) and accompanies a comprehensive breed profile, covering the breed history, pertinent breed characteristics and some tips about special breed requirements.

As well as the information about each of the individual breeds, there is a good introductory section that covers some basic information on feather types, plumage and markings and the descriptions of feather patterns. The descriptions we use to describe plumage patterns such as Millefleur, Wheaten and Chamois, (always difficult to remember) are defined. A handy reference that I shall be referring to again I’m sure.

There is some good basic advice on feeding, housing, hygiene, breed classes and acquiring or breeding your own stock and I really liked the quick reference guide found towards the end of the book which has a handy table listing the breeds with their type (e.g. layer or ornamental), class (bantam or game), egg colour and whether they are likely to go broody or not.

If you are trying to decide which breed to keep, or you would like a reference covering the most popular breeds available, this book should be on your short list.
Beautifully presented, a book worthy of a prime spot on my shelf.
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Have you read this book? If so, please leave your review in the comments box below to let us know what you think.

Tim Daniels

Tim is the founder of the poultry keeper website and lives in Herefordshire, UK. He is passionate about poultry and keeps a range of different chickens, ducks, geese and quail.

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